Crazy about fish

Jake Rischbieth (aka Rish Fish) and his life as a frivolous fishing aficionado. A quiet day cruising the Gold Coast canals didn't deter from Jake's optimistic outlook. The sun was shining, and he was keen for 'Game Day'.

My first memory of Jake as a friend is writing an article about the overwhelming presence of bull sharks in the Gold Coast canals. It was published in ‘Bond Briefs,’ a respectable publication created by journalism students.

The article also focused on a cultural group developed at Bond, called the ‘Bond University Shark Hunting Association’.

It was a tiny beginning to what has now become a group attracting the devotion of over a hundred students at Bond. Led by Jake Rischbieth, who takes on the role as president, it is a group that has a crazy amount of dedication and passion behind it.

I spent a morning with Jake to film his love for fishing. It was clear he was still crazy about it.

He didn’t shy away from the camera to tell me everything he loves about it. Naming endless fish (few which I’d heard of before), his happiness resonated when he reminisced of places he had gone to feed his hungry passion. Jake focused when he held the rod in his hand and wavered it over the lakes surrounding Bond.

His determination to catch a fish was clear, even though low tides and cold water prevented much luck.

Fishing is part of him as a person, and blatantly obvious as he strolled by the lake and dipped the bait into the water. His passion was more than the simple man who leans back in his chair and waits for a bite.

Photos Jake showed me earlier, of tackling sharks with his bare hands, came to mind. He was out to actively find fish, and he was making sure he reached the best spots to increase his chances. The fish was going to bite, whether it intended to or not.